Swatting it? No, let the bee be!

Bees are indispensable to the ecosystem due to their role as primary pollinators. In recent years, bee populations across the world have been declining at an alarming rate. This declining bee population poses a severe threat to the health of ecosystems and the global food supply, necessitating urgent measures.  

A decline in bee population can severely impact food security since approximately 75 percent of the world’s food crops depend on pollination. Without pollination of flowers, there won’t be any crops, such as grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, on which we rely. A reduction in bee population can lead to decreased crop yields and higher food prices, affecting the availability and affordability of food. As bees support the growth of plants that provide food and habitat for other wildlife, their decline can affect the equilibrium and resilience of ecosystems.

Studies have shown that the use of pesticides, especially neonicotinoids – which are similar to nicotine in their chemical structure and hence the name – has been known to harm bees. They affect the bees’ ability to forage for nectar and their ability to remember the location of flowers and find their way home to the hive. Also, pesticides can contaminate the nectar and pollen that bees collect, leading to poisoning. Habitat loss and agricultural expansion reduce the availability of food and nesting sites for bee colonies. Climate change and extreme weather events disrupt the natural life cycle of bees and the plants they pollinate, while also causing mismatches in their interaction periods. And lastly, monoculture farming reduces the diversity of plants, reducing nutritional diversity for bees to survive.

Reducing pesticide use, adopting integrated pest management practices and organic farming will create a safer environment for bees. Creating and maintaining diverse habitats with native flowering plants can provide bees with resources that ensure their survival. Investing in research to better understand bee health, disease resistance and the impact of environmental changes can lead to effective conservation strategies. Educating the public about the importance of bees can foster community-driven initiatives, such as planting bee-friendly gardens.

As bees play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and ensuring global food security, concerted actions to protect and restore bee populations, will ensure a sustainable future for the bees as well as for us.

Lead image (courtesy: Canva)